Interchangeable hoe and rake



N0. 6|2,|25. Patented 00L ll, I398. -S. B. SHIGLEY. INTERCHANGEABLE HOE AND RAKE.

(Application filed June 21, 1897.)

(No Model.)

WWI Loam NITED STATES SARA BELLE SI-IIGLEY, OF YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO.

INTERCHANGEABLE HOE AND RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,125, dated October 1 1, 1898.

Application filed June 21, 1897. Serial No; 64:1,636. (N model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SARA BELLE SHIGLEY, of Yellow Springs, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Hoes and Rakes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a combination tool or implement for use in cultivating soil or for other purposes, and to this end provides a handle with ahead of peculiar construction adapted to receive different plates or cutters in order that a single handle may serve in changing the style of implement and thereby materially reduce the aggregate cost.

To these ends the invention consists in providing a tool-handle with a head having a transverse recess and retaining-flanges, in connection with the cross-bar at the upper end of the blades or cutters, and thumb-screws to prevent lateral movement of the parts upon each other, all as fully described in the following specification, and the novel features of construction particularly set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool-handle constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being applied to a hoe-blade. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the hoe-blade and head or socket. Fig. 3 is a view of a different style of blade adapted for use in cultivating potatoes. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a rake-seetion to be used in connection with the handle. Fig, 5 is a detail view of another style of blade or cutter.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l designates the handle proper, to the lower end of which is attached my improved head or socket. This head or socket consists of two flat plates 3 and 4, preferably rectangular in shape, separated from each other by a metal bar 5, located between said plates at one edge thereof, the opposite edges of the plates being provided on their inner sides with metal scribed I form the blades or cutters of the implement with a cross-bar 8 at the upper edge, said cross-bar being of a thickness to fit within the transverse opening of the head into which the said cross-bar is slid lengthwise. The space between the metal strips or flanges 6 of the head is equal to the thickness of the body portion of the blade or cutter, and one of the plates which forms the head carries thumb-screws 9, that engage threaded apertures 10 therefor in the blades or cutters.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a single tool-handle which is adapted to receive a number of blades or cutters, and

the connection between the parts is made in such manner that a rigid or strong tool will be presented, as the cross-bar of. the blade fits snugly within the recess of the head and the retaining-screws only serve to prevent lateral movement. The operation of changing the blade is readily and conveniently accomplished, for it is only necessary to loosen the thumb-screws and slide the blade from the head out of one side thereof, the said operation being reversed in substituting a new blade. It will also be observed that the charactor and number of blades need not'be limited to what is herein shown, and it will be further noted that the construction could be employed in other classes of implements.

The term plate herein used is of course intended to describe the several forms of devices shown in the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a handle, a head secured thereto, the said head composed of plates, edge pieces between said plates, one of which is slotted and secured to said plates, with a longitudinal opening be tween said plates and said edges, a blade havin g a stiffening-piece and adapted to be inserted Within said longitudinal opening in the head and projecting through the slot therein, and one or more thumb-screws carried by the head and adapted to be screwed into the 10 blade-stiffening piece whereby the blade is held in the longitudinal opening in said head substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SARA BELLE SHIGLEY.

Witnesses:

AMos WOLFE, D. I. DERRICKSON. 

